Roy Keeler was born in Zambia in 1948 and educated in Zimbabwe. Due to his love of the wild, Roy joined the Dept. Of Internal Affairs, and spent the next 5 years in some of the most remote places in Zimbabwe.
In 1972 Roy went overseas and returned to settle in South Africa in 1974. Roy managed to stick out city life for 5 years before the bush beckoned, and he moved to the Timbavati game reserve bordering on the Kruger National Park. There he worked for a private game lodge for 3 years after which he moved to a property next door where he could concentrate on his painting, although he still took people on walking trails in the bush. Roy was privileged to have followed the white lion pride over a period of 17 years. The animal he is most passionate about are elephants.
In 2000 Roy moved to outside Sabie in the Mpumalanga escarpment where he remains to this day.
Roy stated his career in painting primarily as wildlife artist, but since 2000 has spent a considerable time traveling around the Karoo and Namibia where he draws inspiration from the vast open spaces. This is reflected to a large extent in his recent paintings.
Roy has exhibited in various centers around South Africa and in Switzerland. Samples of his work can be found hanging in Australasia, Europe and North America.